Buck Run (2019)

A raw, quietly devastating drama about a grieving teenager navigating loss, isolation, and a painful reunion with his estranged father in rural Pennsylvania.

Buck Run - Movie Information

  • Original Title: Buck Run
  • Release Year: 2019
  • Directed by: Nick Frangione
  • Type: Movie
  • Genres: Drama
  • Runtime: 1h 20m
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • Release Date (Theatrical): January 6, 2019
  • Production Countries: United States of America

Buck Run - Plot

Set in rural Pennsylvania, 15-year-old Shaw, a bullied outsider, is trying to cope with his mother's death and a reunion with his estranged, alcoholic father.

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Buck Run - Cast & Crew

Director(s)

  • Nick Frangione

Main Cast

  • James Le Gros
  • Nolan Lyons
  • Amy Hargreaves
  • Kevin J. O'Connor
  • Alicia Goranson
  • Jim Parrack
  • Angus Macfadyen

Writers

  • David Hauslein

Buck Run - FAQs

What is Buck Run about?

Buck Run follows Shaw, a 15-year-old outsider in rural Pennsylvania, as he struggles with grief after his mother's death and is forced to reconnect with his estranged, alcoholic father. It's a quiet, emotionally raw portrait of adolescent pain, family dysfunction, and the fragile search for belonging.

Does Buck Run have a hopeful ending?

Buck Run doesn't wrap things up neatly. The film leans into ambiguity, reflecting the messy reality of grief and broken family bonds. Rather than offering easy resolution, it leaves Shaw — and the audience — sitting with the weight of what's been lost and the uncertain possibility of healing.

Where can you stream Buck Run?

You can stream Buck Run on Amazon Prime Video or watch it for free with ads on Tubi TV and Hoopla. It's also available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.

Who plays Shaw's father in Buck Run?

James Le Gros plays William Templeton, Shaw's troubled, alcoholic father. Le Gros brings a weathered, understated quality to the role, capturing a man simultaneously failing and reaching for his son. Nolan Lyons plays Shaw, and the dynamic between the two anchors the film's emotional core.

Who are the main actors in Buck Run?

The cast features James Le Gros and Nolan Lyons as father and son, alongside Amy Hargreaves, Kevin J. O'Connor, Alicia Goranson, Jim Parrack, and Angus Macfadyen. It's a strong ensemble of character actors who bring real texture to this small-scale, intimate drama.

Is Buck Run based on a true story?

Buck Run is not based on a specific true story. It's an original screenplay by David Hauslein, though the film draws on deeply familiar themes — rural isolation, adolescent grief, and fractured father-son relationships — that feel grounded in recognizable, lived-in American experience.

Who directed Buck Run and what is their style?

Nick Frangione directed Buck Run, bringing a restrained, observational style to the material. Shot in rural Pennsylvania by cinematographer Anna Franquesa Solano, the film favors quiet, naturalistic moments over dramatic confrontation — letting landscape and silence carry as much weight as dialogue.

What movies are similar to Buck Run?

If Buck Run resonates with you, check out Life as a House (2001), Light of My Life (2019), The Mudge Boy (2003), or At Close Range (1986). All explore strained parent-child relationships with similar emotional honesty. Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020) and American Woman (2018) also share its quiet, rural American sensibility.

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